HL Deb 31 January 1973 vol 338 cc591-2

2.48 p.m.

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. The purpose of this Motion is to carry out decisions taken by your Lordships when you approved on December 13 last the recommendations of the First Report of the Offices Committee in regard to the powers of Black Rod. I beg to move.

Moved: (1) That the following amendments be made to Public Business Standing Orders:—

  1. (i) Leave out Standing Orders 11 and 13.
  2. (ii) Insert the following new Standing Order:—

Duties and Powers of Black Rod

11.—(1) The admission of strangers to the Chamber and the precincts of the House, whether or not the House is sitting, shall be subject to such orders and rules as the House may make. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod shall give effect to such orders and rules and shall have such powers (including the power to take into custody) as are necessary for that purpose.

(2) Respect is to be had to the Chamber, whether or not the House is sitting.

(3) The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod shall take into his custody any person whom the House may order to be detained.

(4) In the absence of the Gentleman Usher, the Yeoman Usher may act in his place.

(2) That the Draft Rules set out in the Appendix to the First Report from the Select Committee on the House of Lords' Offices be approved—(Earl Jellicoe.)

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, since not all noble Lords may recollect this Report, may I ask the noble Earl whether he would confirm that what is now proposed is essentially to regularise a situation which had not been properly clarified, where there were powers which were implicit but where there was some uncertainty; and that there is no great extension of disciplinary power that some might fear?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think in essence I can confirm what the noble Lord, the Leader of the Opposition, has said. There is no sort of Star Chamber procedure envisaged here. The purpose of the Amendments to the Standing Orders is to place responsibility for security within this Chamber on Black Rod, rather than on the Lord Great Chamberlain, whose powers were in any case very fuzzy and limited. The Offices Committee, as those of your Lordships who are members of it will know, considered this subject very deeply, and I hope that this proposal, which commended itself to your Lordships on December 13, and these Amendments will be acceptable to you.

On Question, Motion agreed to.